Have some books become 'definitive'?
- Thread starter Krug
- Start date
I think that the criteria for definitive, for me, would rely on the OGL. When a set of rules from a given book start getting re-used all over the place, then I think the book will be definitive. As of yet, I think there just hasn't been enough cross-pollination for this to happen.
Nightfall
Sage of the Scarred Lands
Sure this is going to sound a tad hypocritical, but not sure I'd rank R&R into "Definitive" d20. The rest sure, but not R&R1. Why? Well I guess with all the prepondence of "magic books" R&R1 no longer has the OOMPH it once has. Mind you the ritual casting system and true rituals I DO think leave a lasting impact. So may in that respect it works.
Darrin Drader
Explorer
Airships by Bastion Press - Definitive book on airships.
Dragonstar - Definitive fantasy+scifi space (Star Wars notwithstanding).
Necropolis - Definitive guide to adventuring in Egypt (or reasonable facsimilie).
D20 Flumph - Definitive Flumph
Dragonstar - Definitive fantasy+scifi space (Star Wars notwithstanding).
Necropolis - Definitive guide to adventuring in Egypt (or reasonable facsimilie).
D20 Flumph - Definitive Flumph
haiiro
First Post
This is a very interesting question, and I'm not sure how to go about trying to answer it.
On the one hand, I can think of numerous "best in category" titles that might fit the bill -- products that are the premiere resources of their kind, which stand head and shoulders above the competition. That's certainly one way to look at the topic of what is or is not definitive, but it's also awfully subjective.
On the other hand, D&D created a new situation that is (AFAIK) without precedent in RPGs: one in which multiple works from different publishers can cover the same topic. Unlike a one-publisher system, there are no obvious "definitive" titles -- i.e., if you play GURPS, GURPS Discworld is pretty much the definitive treatment of Discworld. That's not the case with d20 material.
At the same time, some topics simply haven't received this kind of coverage. While you can choose from several books on dwarves, you only have one real option for, say, planes and planar travel: Manual of the Planes. Partly because it's an excellent book and partly because it's the only treatment of this topic, I consider MotP to be the definitive d20 work on the planes and planar topics.
...except that I've heard FFG has a L&L title on the planes coming out in the not-too-distant future. Once that hits the shelves, how do we decide which volume is the "definitive" d20 work on planar topics?
(Edit: typo.)
On the one hand, I can think of numerous "best in category" titles that might fit the bill -- products that are the premiere resources of their kind, which stand head and shoulders above the competition. That's certainly one way to look at the topic of what is or is not definitive, but it's also awfully subjective.
On the other hand, D&D created a new situation that is (AFAIK) without precedent in RPGs: one in which multiple works from different publishers can cover the same topic. Unlike a one-publisher system, there are no obvious "definitive" titles -- i.e., if you play GURPS, GURPS Discworld is pretty much the definitive treatment of Discworld. That's not the case with d20 material.
At the same time, some topics simply haven't received this kind of coverage. While you can choose from several books on dwarves, you only have one real option for, say, planes and planar travel: Manual of the Planes. Partly because it's an excellent book and partly because it's the only treatment of this topic, I consider MotP to be the definitive d20 work on the planes and planar topics.
...except that I've heard FFG has a L&L title on the planes coming out in the not-too-distant future. Once that hits the shelves, how do we decide which volume is the "definitive" d20 work on planar topics?
(Edit: typo.)
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It would seem to me that to have a book be termed 'definitive' it would pretty much have to be agreed upon by all gamers...
Since some of the categories put forth already have had a few suggestions (and in the grand scheme, we're a rather small percentage of the gamers in the world), it would seem unlikely we could find a 'definitive' book for most since we can't even come to agreements within this subcommunity.
I also have to agree that some topics just haven't received enough coverage for there really to be adequate competition.
I hope that made sense...
Since some of the categories put forth already have had a few suggestions (and in the grand scheme, we're a rather small percentage of the gamers in the world), it would seem unlikely we could find a 'definitive' book for most since we can't even come to agreements within this subcommunity.
I also have to agree that some topics just haven't received enough coverage for there really to be adequate competition.
I hope that made sense...
jdavis
First Post
The Players Handbook is the difinitive Players Handbook
The DMG is the definitive Dungeon Masters Guide
Gee other than that I would not want to take a stab as something (even with the Monster Manual, which is not the end all be all of monster books for everybody). I'm sure that there are titles out there that could be considered definitive because they are the only book covering that topic but that's sort of like saying that D20 Flumph is the definitive D20 Flumph product.
The DMG is the definitive Dungeon Masters Guide
Gee other than that I would not want to take a stab as something (even with the Monster Manual, which is not the end all be all of monster books for everybody). I'm sure that there are titles out there that could be considered definitive because they are the only book covering that topic but that's sort of like saying that D20 Flumph is the definitive D20 Flumph product.
Psion
Adventurer
Nightfall said:
I don't find that to be the case. This long after its release, it is still in my box full of essentials. Aside from the ritual casting system (which showed us how you can creatively and convincingly expand on the d20 system), the spells were written up in a very functional fashion that few have yet to immitate. The first part of each spell is all the setting specific material which also serves as a springboard for ideas of how to use the spell even if you don't use the setting. And the mechanics are clear and uncluttered in the second section.
Of d20 magic resources, I only use BoEM I near as much, and its focus is a lot more narrow (basically, blast spells.)
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